Hertl 30 Miniatures: 1.Alla Polacca & 2.Barcarolla • Božo Paradžik, d.bass & Annalisa Orlando, piano

Описание: 0:02 Alla Polacca
2:33 Barcarolla

World's premiere recording of entire "30 Miniatures for double bass and piano" by František Hertl (1906-1973)

Sheet music of this cyclus of short compositions wasn't published during composer's lifetime. Completed just shortly before his death, the manuscripts have been kept in the family archives for nearly 50 years, until just a few years ago. Composer's daughter, Ms Květa Hertlová is very happy that this wonderful music now can be played all over the world.

These pieces are unique in several terms. Unlike many other solo pieces composed for double bass, most of the time "30 Miniatures" are played in the two octaves at the low end, in the natural, low register of double bass. Artistic value of these compositions is far above average in the double bass literature. František Hertl was an educated composer with his own musical style. And these pieces are his mature creation, the last and by far the biggest he has ever composed for this instrument. Regarding the fact that he was an excellent double bass player, very unusual is also the fact, that these pieces have been obviously composed by using the piano keyboard, rather than searching for the comfortable grips at the fingerboard, which would have been dangerous for the composing process apt to highest quality.

This is the first of 15 videos, each of the following 14 will also include two pieces, in the order. Publishing stepwise will make the music earlier available to the audience. It will be a long process and I will be very happy if we make it all through until the pieces 29 and 30 and more than 90 minutes of total time before the end of this year. Many of those short compositions are a true masterpieces and it wouldn't surprise me if they would become a standard literature in the future.

I hope Hertl's music will find many new fans now. Please visit my website for more information about these pieces.

- - - - - about pieces 1 & 2 - - - - - -

"Alla polacca" is related to polonaise, famous Polish folk music dance. "30 Miniatures" is a cyclus of short compositions that consequently starts with a fast piece, typically a dance, followed by a ballad. This monumental is sounding polonaise was a perfect way for the composer to start the longest known cyclus yet composed for solo double bass and piano: none of other 14 fast miniatures has such a grandioso character. To give it such a name like "Alla polacca", Hertl has chosen similar way like Ludwig van Beethoven (in Triple Concerto or Serenade opus 8) but I'm like Beethoven, he didn't use a tempo mark in the name.

Barcarolla is a typical song of the Venetian gondoliers. This beautiful ballad is right away a real masterpiece, like many other ballads in this cyclus.